Archives for January 2023

Liev Schreiber Headlines (UN)Sanctioned Party with Ukraine Ambassador to Support Humanitarian Aid Efforts

January 30, 2023 By haddadmedia

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 27: attends UnSanctioned Party in support of Ukraine with Actor Liev Schreiber at the French Ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C. on January 27, 2023 in Washington, DC. Ryan Evans, Ambassador Philippe Etienne, Liev Schreiber, Amb. Oksana Markarova, Kara Swisher, Dmitri Alperovitch, Maureen Hinman, Tammy Haddad (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Haddad Media)

The (Un)Sanctioned Party brought together a dynamic crowd to support BlueCheck Ukraine at the residence of the French Ambassador Philippe Etienne. Co-hosts Dmitri Alperovitch and Maureen Hinman, Tammy Haddad, Kevin Sheekey, John Katko, Mike Rogers, Edward Luce, Ryan Evans, Dan Jablonsky, Adam Ghetti and Kara Swisher highlighted the work of BlueCheck Ukraine founded by the great actor and activist Liev Schreiber.

Special guest Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova thanked Schreiber and all the guests who have supported Ukraine’s efforts. Actor and Blue Check Ukraine co-founder Liev Schreiber describing the work their partner NGOS are doing on the ground in Ukraine.

Liev Schreiber described how BlueCheck Ukraine fund local NGOs on the ground in Ukraine and their pro-bono partners, Ropes & Gray and Integrity Risk International, vet each of the NGOs.)

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 27: Olivia Nuzzi Washington Correspondent New York Magazine, Abby Phillip Anchor & Senior Political Correspondent CNN, Kara Swisher On With Kara Swisher Co-Host, Pivot Podcast, attends UnSanctioned Party in support of Ukraine with Actor Liev Schreiber at the French Ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C. on January 27, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Haddad Media)

Please contribute here and be sure to type “UnSanctioned” in the comment section to help us track donations.

Ambassador Markarova inspired the crowd her remarks, highlighting the bravery and resiliency of the Ukrainian people and why they need our support now more than ever.

Guests who were sanctioned by Russia included Jon Finer, Lisa Monaco, Ned Price, Rep. Brendan Boyle, Rep. Rick Larsen, Rep. Doug Lamborn, Rep. Susan Wild, Susan Glasser, Chris Krebs, Bianna Golodryga, Craig Kennedy.

Other guests included Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Ambassadors Karen Pierce (UK), Geraldine Byrne Nason (Ireland), Stavros Lambrinidis (EU), Santiago Cabanas Ansorena (Spain), Miloslav Stašek (Czechia), Christina Markus Lassen (Denmark), Nicole Bintner (Luxembourg), Niamh King, Peter Baker, Jonathan Karl, John McCarthy, Elizabeth Falcone, David Butler, T.W. Arrighi, Abby Phillip, Kaitlan Collins, Josh Dawsey, Alex Marquardt, Olivia Nuzzi and Ryan Williams.

Please contribute to BlueCheck Ukraine to fund local NGOs on the ground in Ukraine. Donations should include the #UnSanctioned, press HERE!

Denyce Graves Gives Passionate Performance in Mary Cardwell Dawson Inaugural Performance at Kennedy Center

January 26, 2023 By WHC Insider

Emmy® and Grammy® Award-winning Mezzo-soprano star Denyce Graves this month launched important works through the Denyce Graves Foundation with a glitzy string of events in Washington to roll out the foundation’s initiatives honoring the legacy of minority performers in America and celebrating the diversity and talent of the next generation.

The weekend kicked off with Denyce performaning the starring role in The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson at the Kennedy Center, which portrays the life and legacy of Mary Cardwell Dawson, acclaimed performer and founder of the National Negro Opera Company. Presented by the Washington National Opera, The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, which played in the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater from January 20–22, features music by Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon and text by playwright Sandra Seaton.

Following the Sunday evening performance, philanthropists Wayne and Catherine Reynolds hosted a dinner at the Kennedy Center sponsored by the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation. Guests included British Ambassador Karen Pierce and Sir Charles Roxburgh, Ford Foundation’s Darren Walker, Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden, Bret and Amy Baier, Billy Martin, Abby Phillip and Marcus Richardson, Dede and Dr. Dallas Lea, Teresa Carlson and Andre Pienaar, Isabelle Johnson, Lee Satterfield and Patrick Steel, Kim Sajet, Anita and Tim McBride, and Jonathan Capehart and Nick Schmit.

Denyce’s husband, NYU Langone transplant surgeon Dr. Robert Montgomery, who has visited and supported Ukraine’s largest functioning transplant center, was joined at the dinner by fellow doctors from Ukraine.

Isabelle Johnson of the S&R Evermay Foundation is a partner of the Denyce Graves Foundation and its new exhibition at the Kennedy Center, highlighting the untold stories and achievements of America’s hidden musical figures. The exhibit features photographs and artifacts from Mary Cardwell Dawson and the National Negro Opera Company, on loan from the Heinz History Center, and runs Jan. 18–Feb. 1, 2023.

On January 22, the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously presented to Mary Cardwell Dawson for providing opportunities for gifted African-American performers and challenging systemic racism. Established in 2003 by executive order by President George W. Bush, the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals who have volunteered more than 4,000 hours of service and is the highest honor in the President’s Volunteer Service Award system. Presented by Dr. Beverly Kee, Certifying Agent, Premiere Coalition Partners Association, the award was accepted on the late Dawson’s behalf by her grandniece, Debra Evans.

Prior to the performances, the Library of Congress hosted a lecture on January 19 by Dr. Karen Bryan entitled, “Self-Determination on the Operatic Stage: Mary Cardwell Dawson and African American performance in Washington, DC and New York City.” The lecture was presented by the American Musicological Society and the Music Division of the Library of Congress.

The Denyce Graves Foundation is committed to highlighting the rich musical heritage of early African-American performers and preparing the diverse pool of tomorrow’s vocal stars by encouraging inclusive opportunity, access, and advocacy for the next generation.

Brava, Denyce!

Bloomberg Government Welcomes Washington Back to K Street

January 25, 2023 By WHC Insider

Bloomberg Government rolled out the welcome mat on Tuesday evening with a lively reception to reopen its newly-renovated offices on K Street.

Guests were welcomed by Bloomberg Industry Group CEO Josh Eastright and Bloomberg Government president Arielle Elliott. BGOV News Director Angela Greiling Keane introduced special guest Rohit Chopra, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, who gave a look-ahead for the next year, as well as BGOV Congressional reporter Emily Wilkins and economic reporter Jack Fitzpatrick.

In the great Bloomberg tradition, guests enjoyed delicious fare and customized specialty cocktails from DC’s own renowned mixologist and winner of Netflix’s Drink Masters, Lauren “LP” Paylor O’Brien.

Renowned mixologist and winner of Netflix’s Drink Masters, Lauren “LP” Paylor O’Brien

SPOTTED: Ambassadors Oksana Markarova of Ukraine, Luxembourg’s Nicole Bintner, and Singapore’s Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, DC Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio, Susana Castillo, Doug Jones, Jim Moran, Michael Chertoff, Neil Bradley, Bloomberg’s Cesca Antonelli, Joel Johnson, Reggie Love, Michael Chertoff, Anita McBride, Jen Howard, Giuseppe and Francis Lanzone, Jonathan and Betsy Fischer Martin, Josh Dawsey, ABC’s Rick Klein, David Chavern, Carol Melton, Liz Johnson, Vince Evans, Meta’s Jackie Rooney, Ron Bonjean, Niamh King, Greg Babyak, David O’Brien, Samantha Dravis, Ted Johnson, Steve Clemons, Heather Podesta, Peggy Collins, Julissa Marenco, Eva McKend, Paige Hopkins, Francesca Chambers and Michael Moroney, Amanda Anderson, Zoraida Rodriguez, and Winston Lord.

View the photo gallery here.

Teresa Carlson Joins Fellow Amazon Leader as President of Flexport

January 7, 2023 By haddadmedia

Washington Women Power 100 Lunch Dr. Christine Grady, Ann Hand, Capitol Hill Police Officer Caroline Edwards and co-host Teresa Carlson
Cafe Milano, July 2022

Teresa Carlson, one of the most important woman in tech, joins Flexport as President and Chief Commercial Officer. Flexport is a global logistics and supply chain leader. Carlson will oversee sales, marketing and communications, and the impact arm Flexport.org. She will also spearhead the expansion into new global markets, verticals, and strategic partnerships.

Dave Clark, is co-CEO, after departing Amazon as CEO of Worldwide Consumer, the division that owns the technology and the customer experience for Amazon.com.

Her previous roles include Corporate VP and Executive-in-Residence at Microsoft, President and Chief Growth Officer at Splunk, and VP, Amazon Web Services (AWS), where she founded and led the Worldwide Public Sector business for more than a decade.

Teresa Carlson said, “Flexport has changed the way businesses view supply chain and logistics, and their technology-enabled platform has the power to make a huge impact for so many industries across the globe. I’m excited to join the talented Flexport team to grow the business globally and empower current and new customers with our full suite of innovative technology solutions.”

Carlson is a leading advocate for women and serves as Vice Chair of the White House Historical Association, on the board of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and many other leading institutions in Washington.